Brandt’s Cormorant on eggs at The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. As I began my series on Birding Destinations I was mostly focused on places away from my home turf. It occurred to me it might be a disservice to birders who’ve helped me in connecting to places near and dear to them during my travels. Nature lovers not from my area, who might be interested in places to visit in the San Diego region might enjoy learning of some places in my own backyard. I resolve to correct this oversight with this, my first in a series about locations where I’ve enjoyed capturing images in Southern California.
The rocky coast near the La Jolla Cove has rewarded me every time I have visited there. Depending on the season, one might find shorebirds (plovers, sandpipers, whimbrels, tattlers, oystercatchers, more), gulls (Western, Heerman’s, more), terns (Elegant, Royal, more), cormorants (Brandt’s, Double-Crested, Pelagic), Peregrine Falcons, and pelicans.
I’m not a “sea watcher”, but many people set up scopes here and stare out to sea for hours on end, keeping track of birds a mile off shore. Shearwaters, loons, gulls, alcids, tubenoses and others are sometimes seen by the thousands.
Brandt's Cormorant(Urile penicillatus) |
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Description: Raising families near the Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:08 11:30 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X0038-BrandtsCormorant |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brandt's Cormorant(Urile penicillatus) |
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Description: Pair bonding near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County 2012-04-08. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:08 12:04 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X0129-BrandtsCormorant |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
California Sea Lion(Zalophus californianus) |
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Description: Near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:02:16 13:10 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X7077-CaliforniaSeaLion |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brandt's Cormorant(Urile penicillatus) |
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Description: Back from foraging at sea near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:02:16 15:23 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X7307-BrandtsCormorant |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brandt's Cormorant(Urile penicillatus) |
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Description: Changing of the guard at the Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:02:16 15:31 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X7331-BrandtsCormorant-Nest |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Heermann's Gull(Larus heermanni) |
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Description: Immature bird at the Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County 2012-03-02. |
Date Taken: 2012:03:02 13:14 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X7603-HeermannsGull |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pelagic Cormorant(Phalacrocorax pelagicus) |
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Description: Sometimes careful examination of the flying cormorants will reward the viewer with a nice surprise. The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County 2012-03-02. |
Date Taken: 2012:03:02 13:14 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X7610-PelagicCormorant |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brown Pelican(Pelecanus occidentalis) |
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Description: The orange-red throat indicates a breeding bird. The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County 2012-03-02. |
Date Taken: 2012:03:02 13:14 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X7612-BrownPelican |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Peregrine Falcon(Falco peregrinus) |
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Description: Immature bird near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:24 6:28 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X8180-PeregrineFalcon-Juvenile |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Peregrine Falcon(Falco peregrinus) |
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Description: Immature bird near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:24 8:16 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X8298-PeregrineFalcon-Juvenile |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Song Sparrow(Melospiza melodia) |
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Description: This bird was atop the cliffs near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:03:19 15:25 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X8668-SongSparrow |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Wandering Tattler(Tringa incana) |
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Description: Along the rocky coast south of Point La Jolla. La Jolla, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:09 8:21 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: D3X9854-WanderingTattler |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Turnstone(Arenaria melanocephala) |
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Description: Along the rocky coast south of Point La Jolla. La Jolla, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:09 8:24 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X9855-BlackTurnStone |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Turnstone(Arenaria melanocephala) |
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Description: The shadow tells the story along the rocky coast south of Point La Jolla. La Jolla, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:09 8:24 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X9860-BlackTurnStone |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Wandering Tattler(Tringa incana) |
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Description: Flycatching along the rocky coast south of Point La Jolla. La Jolla, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:09 8:57 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X9929-WanderingTattler |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Phoebe(Sayornis nigricans) |
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Description: A meal captured along the rocky coast south of Point La Jolla. La Jolla, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:09 8:59 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X9945-BlackPhoebe |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Double-Crested Cormorant(Phalacrocorax auritus) |
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Description: A loafing bird seen along the rocky coast south of Point La Jolla. La Jolla, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:09 9:08 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X9965-DoubleCrestedCormorant |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Double-Crested Cormorant(Phalacrocorax auritus) |
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Description: Eyes of green: A close encounter along the rocky coast south of Point La Jolla. La Jolla, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:09 9:08 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X9965-DoubleCrestedCormorant-Eye |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brandt's Cormorant(Urile penicillatus) |
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Description: Blue eyes. Along the rocky coast south of Point La Jolla. La Jolla, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:09 9:09 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X9978-BrandtsCormorant-Eye |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Brown Pelican(Pelecanus occidentalis) |
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Description: Brown eyes. Along the rocky coast south of Point La Jolla. La Jolla, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:09 9:11 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X9982-BrownPelican-Eye |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Heermann's Gull(Larus heermanni) |
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Description: Adult bird near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:10 11:58 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: jcd0426HeermannsGull |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Hatch year bird near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:10 12:02 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: jcd0477WesternGull |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Brown Pelican(Pelecanus occidentalis) |
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Description: Lots of these birds at the Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:10 12:31 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: jcd0556BrownPelican |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
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Description: Juvenile foraging near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2008-09-19. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:19 7:08 |
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Location:
Casa Pool |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/90 |
File Name: jcd0998BlackOysterCatcher |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
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Description: Juvenile foraging near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2008-09-19. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:19 7:15 |
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Location:
Casa Pool |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/180 |
File Name: jcd1089BlackOysterCatcher |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) Near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2009-09-07. |
Date Taken: 2009:09:07 8:04 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/180 |
File Name: JCD6161.MarbledGodwit |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging |
Spotted Sandpiper(Actitis macularius) |
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Description: Juvenile near The Cove in La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2009-09-07. |
Date Taken: 2009:09:07 9:15 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/400 |
File Name: JCD6248.SpottedSandPiper.Juvenile |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging.com |
Least Sandpiper(Calidris minutilla) |
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Description: (Calidris minutilla) Molting juvenile near The Cove in La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2016-05-25. |
Date Taken: 2009:09:16 8:50 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3000 |
File Name: JCD6479.LeastSandPiper |
| © 2007 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: Nonbreeding adult near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2009-09-16. |
Date Taken: 2009:09:16 8:54 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: JCD6488.SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging.com |
Sanderling(Calidris alba) |
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Description: Juvenile bird loafing near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2009-09-16. |
Date Taken: 2009:09:16 8:58 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: JCD6500.Sanderling.Juvenile |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging |
Sanderling(Calidris alba) |
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Description: Juvenile with small prey near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2009-09-16. |
Date Taken: 2009:09:16 9:01 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: JCD6517.Sanderling.Juvenile |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging |
Harbor Seal(Phoca vitulina) |
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Description: Loafing on the beach near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2009:09:28 8:57 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/750 |
File Name: JCD6660.HarborSeal |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2011:04:14 9:18 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD7167_WesternGull |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Image captured from a day at the La Jolla Cove. San Diego County California 2011-04-14. |
Date Taken: 2011:04:14 9:23 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD7194_WesternGull |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2011:04:20 14:44 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD7462-WesternGull |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Brown Pelican(Pelecanus occidentalis) |
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Description: La Jolla Cove Area. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2000:12:10 0:48 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED, |
File Name: A0L10a10-BrownPelican |
| © 2000 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Storm Surf(n/a) |
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Description: 2018-12-17: The La Jolla Cove is not noted for big surf, but on this day some of the waves were more than twice, perhaps even three times the height of a man. La Jolla Cove, San Diego County California (USA) |
Date Taken: 2018:12:17 11:49 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 150 mm, f/8.0, |
File Name: BigSurf_D505257-La-Jolla-Cove |
| © 2018 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
California Sea Lion(Zalophus californianus) |
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Description: 2018-12-17: At the Cove in La Jolla. San Diego County, California (USA) |
Date Taken: 2018:12:17 11:21 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 140 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CaliforniaSeaLion_D504884-La-Jolla-Cove |
| © 2018 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Gull(Larus occidentalis) |
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Description: Fledglings anticipating a meal in the early morning at the La Jolla Cove. San Diego California. |
Date Taken: 2018:07:15 9:11 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: WesternGull-ParentFeeding-Fledgling_D504592-LaJolla |
| © 2018 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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